- Nintendo realizes that some parents may fear that their children may use the Wii U's internet functionality without permission. Wii U has Parental Controls.
- Can restrict content based on user age, CERO (Japan ESRB) rating, internet functionality, internet browser, e-Shop spending, Miiverse functionality, friend registrations, videos, data management, internet settings
- Wii U keyboard input can save user input habits and predictive input in a specific database that depends on the game and user. Wii U does not save input data that you don't want other users to know into the database.
- Miiverse settings can be turned on/off depending on the save profiles per game.

USB Data Storage

- 8GB = 7.2GB, 32GB = 29GB in terms of actual save data. Wii U uses around 4.2GB when using the system for the first time.
- NSMBU is ~2GB, Nintendo Land is ~3.2GB. So, both won't fit into the Basic set at the same time.
- Wii U lets you put data onto a connected USB media drive.
- One USB drive at a time only.
- Cannot disconnect the external drive while plugged into the Wii U and receiving power.
- You can use general drives.
- In terms of powering the HDD while connecting to the Wii U, if you do not use a Y Cable Type drive (2 USB cables), then Nintendo cannot guarantee it will work properly.
- Nintendo can guarantee functionality if the HDD plugs into a power outlet.
- No games on USB Flash Memory due to games not running properly all the time (whatever this means...)
- Wii U will read up to 2TB only for external hard drives
- In Data Management, you must format the connected media drive. Note that this means you cannot use the drive with a PC.
- You can move data from internal Wii U storage to external USB media in Data Management and vice versa. Data on both internal and external media will appear in the menu.
- At launch, only 1 USB hard drive can be connected, but through a future update, more than 1 will be possible and you will be able to move data between them freely.
- SD Cards can hold PC data, Wii Virtual Console, Wii Ware, and Wii save data, but cannot be used to save Wii U game save data.

Backwards Compatibility

- Wii games, Virtual Console, Wii Ware stuff cannot be played using the GamePad screen, but only on the TV in Wii Mode
- Iwata: "We understand that there are people who were looking forward to playing Wii games, Virtual Console games, and so forth on the GamePad, but unfortunately we cannot accommodate those users' expectations."
- There are plans for a Wii U Virtual Console that WILL be compatible with the Wii U GamePad. Please look forward to it in the future.

Nintendo Network Premium

- For Premium Set buyers only
- Point service
- Make Nintendo Network ID, then login to find and user the service
- After logging in, you can see the points you have earned
- Buy with download card or download number
- Earn 10% back on purchases
- Earn back purchase points in ¥500 increments
- Points earned can be used with Wii U/3DS e-Shop, Wii Shopping Channel, DSi Shop

nickthegun wrote:
Its certainly the worst launch lineup I can remember.

They are funny, though. The games dried up on the wii as they prepared for the launch of the 3ds. The 3DS games dried up because they were preparing for the launch of the wii u.

The Wii U games will dry up because they are preparing for the launch of the Wii U XL with a tablet controller the size of a Beano Annual.

"Wii U XL"? You mean like ALL the variations of PS3 and 360 we have had to comprehend with over the last few years, so much to the point it has become silly/confusing.

I thought nickthegun was being facetious, satirical even. Given Nintendo's history of redesigns there is some room for mocking.

In fairness to MS and Sony, their redesigns don't usually offer any functional extras that might mitigate repurchase; they're pretty much minor aesthetic changes or spurred on by improved manufacturing processes that allow them to sell their product cheaper. If anything, particularly with the PS3, you'd be silly to buy a newer version as they keep removing features.

joelstinton wrote:
Its a bit unfair to totally disregard the third party titles at launch. I think it must be the first console to have that many good third party titles at launch. Ass creed 3 is only a couple weeks old, blops will be a week old. A lot of people won;t have played them ( i havn't played ass creed 3 or mass effect 3 yet). Having that range of titles alongside the others is good for a lot of people.

Or you could just get them on the 360 and PS3, it's not as if the Wii U multi-platform titles are the definitive version. Why spend £300 on a console offering very little over far cheaper ones with far larger libraries?

Nintendo really need to start showing substantial software off soon, yes it's great that 3rd parties are supporting the console, but they're supporting it with games that can be found elsewhere for cheaper, rather than games that really show off the unique aspects of the console (whether that be its controller, its social aspects or its supposed superior power).

[code]Armoured_Bear wrote:
Unlike yourself, I don't have a weird obsession with any platform.[/code]

ResidentKnievel wrote:
Or you could just get them on the 360 and PS3, it's not as if the Wii U multi-platform titles are the definitive version. Why spend £300 on a console offering very little over far cheaper ones with far larger libraries?

I wouldn't give any credence to an IGN metric. It's pretty much a joke of a site; a refuge for shoddy game journalism, backhanders and lunatic neck-beards. It's only saving grace is the Eurogamer alumni Keza MacDonald.

With that in mind, what are you trying to prove with your NG3 point? That a port of a poor late-in-the-cycle PS3/360 game is slightly less poor on the WiiU? True, if this is your point, but nothing further can be read from this in terms of the WiiU's current/future potential.

I fully anticipate the WiiU versions of ME3, AC3 and Arkham City being worse that the PS3/360 versions. Not because the WiiU's incapable of handling such games, but because of the specific conditions in which they were developed i.e. brand new hardware with seemingly short dev time.

@nickthegun You certainly have a point there. It seems Nintendo can't do two things at once. When they're designing and releasing new hardware their software seems to dry up. More understandable with the Wii but their 3DS output this year's been terrible.

Nintendo really need to see that if they are going to insist on, what, 3 or 4 games a year that aren't mario, they really really need to up the third party support and make it viable. Not just ports. Push them to make it lead dev console (for now). They've started well giving this free engine out, but they need more. And some new IPs

It hit me when I went into nintendoworld in NYC. They didn't even have any Metroid stuff (and yes, that is first party but they do neglect it).

As usual I'll probably give Nintendo the benefit of the doubt. I'll buy the WiiU and equally enjoy and moan about it on gaming forums.

At best, Nintendo is a pleasant antidote to less appealing gaming trends; at worst, it's like someone kicking you in the nuts and then charging you for the privilege, then releasing a new and improved nut-kicking technology six-months down the line.

The problem is they release games so infrequently, its impossible to justify spunking that much money on something im barely going to play half a dozen games on, especially since the last two major Mario kart games have been shit.

roz123 wrote:
- 8GB = 7.2GB, 32GB = 29GB in terms of actual save data. Wii U uses around 4.2GB when using the system for the first time.
- NSMBU is ~2GB, Nintendo Land is ~3.2GB. So, both won't fit into the Basic set at the same time.
- Wii U lets you put data onto a connected USB media drive.
- One USB drive at a time only.
- Cannot disconnect the external drive while plugged into the Wii U and receiving power.
- You can use general drives.
...
- No games on USB Flash Memory due to games not running properly all the time (whatever this means...)
- Wii U will read up to 2TB only for external hard drives
- In Data Management, you must format the connected media drive. Note that this means you cannot use the drive with a PC.
- You can move data from internal Wii U storage to external USB media in Data Management and vice versa. Data on both internal and external media will appear in the menu.
- SD Cards can hold PC data, Wii Virtual Console, Wii Ware, and Wii save data, but cannot be used to save Wii U game save data.

They give with one hand but take away with the other. So you can expand the memory with cheap USB HDDs, but you can't use even cheaper USB flash memory, and it has to be formatted as a dedicated WiiU drive.

When it says Wii U game save data, I wonder if that means downloaded games, or player saves (in which case, WTF?)

Nintendo Network Premium

...
- Make Nintendo Network ID, then login to find and user the service

The way that's laid out makes it sound like you only get a network ID if you buy a premium unit, and without an account, all your downloads will be tied to the console only. I hope that's not the case.

Well one bonus I can possibly foresee in the future is that the premium users might get some kind of ambassador scheme akin to the 3DS after the inevitable price drop? There's a lot of assumptions there, but it's something to consider.

Ambassador scheme only came about because Nintendo royally misjudged the launch price. I can't see Nintendo ever voluntarily giving anything back to the consumer. In the main, I think they view us with open contempt

Luckyjim wrote:
Ambassador scheme only came about because Nintendo royally misjudged the launch price. I can't see Nintendo ever voluntarily giving anything back to the consumer. In the main, I think they view us with open contempt

Well it's the highest priced Nintendo console yet, especially when you factor in all the necessary peripherals/storage to take advantage of every feature the system has. I can see there being some drop in price on the base unit itself for sure.

Meanwhile they will still make a truckload from the repackaged wiimotes/nunchucks/Pro controllers/classic pad/gamepad extentions etc.

Luckyjim wrote:
Ambassador scheme only came about because Nintendo royally misjudged the launch price. I can't see Nintendo ever voluntarily giving anything back to the consumer. In the main, I think they view us with open contempt

Well it's the highest priced Nintendo console yet, especially when you factor in all the necessary peripherals/storage to take advantage of every feature the system has. I can see there being some drop in price on the base unit itself for sure.

Meanwhile they will still make a truckload from the repackaged wiimotes/nunchucks/Pro controllers/classic pad/gamepad extentions etc.

nickthegun wrote:
especially since the last two major Mario kart games have been shit.

I respectfully disagree.

And I respect your disagreement. Double dash was, to be fair, OK that is indeed a bit harsh, but MKWii was rrrrrrrubbish.

Ah, I thought you were including MK7 (which is excellent).

I also had a lot of fun with MK Wii, mainly because of the motorbikes and the online, even though the track design wasn't the best. Funnily enough, I never got on with DD and barely played it - sold it about a month after getting it. And I only really got it because of that Zelda offer they had at the time.